Abstract

Comparative foliar epidermal morphology of some species of Senna were studied in Minna. These include Senna alata (L.) Roxb, Senna hirsuta (L.) Irwin and Barneby, Senna obtusifolia (L), Senna occidentalis (L.). All species were shrubs. Leaves of four species of Senna were collected from different areas in Minna. Strips of epidermal layers were gotten from the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaves and viewed under the microscope. The number, length and breadth of the stomata and epidermal cells were taken for both adaxial and abaxial surfaces. The morphological and anatomical data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to separate the means where significant. Stomata were paracytic and anisocytic in most of the studied species except for S. hirsuta which was paracytic all through. There was variation in the length of stomata which was highest in S. hirsute ........................